Definition
Annual accounts, also called statutory accounts, are the financial statements a UK limited company prepares at the end of each financial year. They show how the company performed over the year and its financial position on the last day. Copies go to the shareholders, to Companies House and to HMRC with the Company Tax Return (CT600). Dormant companies must still file them at Companies House.
What annual accounts contain
Full accounts include a balance sheet, a profit and loss account and notes, plus a directors’ report unless the company is a micro-entity. Smaller companies can prepare simpler versions, such as micro-entity, small company or dormant accounts. The guide to what annual accounts include covers each type in more detail.
Two deadlines, two bodies
A private company normally has 9 months after its accounting reference date to file at Companies House. First accounts covering more than 12 months are usually due 21 months after incorporation. HMRC’s deadline for the CT600 and accounts is 12 months after the end of the accounting period.
An established company with a 31 March 2026 year end must file at Companies House by 31 December 2026 and send its CT600 by 31 March 2027.
If your company is a micro-entity, SmartFiling can file your micro-entity accounts alongside the CT600.
Related questions
- How much does it cost to file company accounts? Companies House charges no fee to file annual accounts, so the cost is software or an accountant.
- What happens if I file my company accounts late? Companies House charges the company an automatic penalty of £150 to £1,500, depending on how late they arrive.
Related terms
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Micro-entity accounts
Micro-entity accounts are the simplified annual accounts that a company qualifying as a micro-entity can prepare under the accounting standard FRS 105.
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Dormant company accounts
Dormant company accounts are the simplified annual accounts a dormant company files at Companies House, normally a balance sheet with a few notes and no profit and loss…
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Accounting reference date
The accounting reference date (ARD) is the date a company's financial year ends each year, often called its year end.
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Companies House
Companies House is the UK's registrar of companies, an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade.
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CT600
The CT600 is the Company Tax Return a UK company files with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for each accounting period.
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